In 2009 the New York City Parks Department began replacing sections of the famous Coney Island Boardwalk, built in 1923, with synthetic decking materials and concrete. The old wood, which is a dark ipe from the now-endangered Brazilian rain forests, ended up in dumpsters and salvage yards. Read more

The Port Moody Sail & Paddle Center is a local boating center with a large multi-use space for the community. The City of Port Moody wanted the new building to express the heritage of the area, so the decision was made early in the design process to use a heavy timber structure that was being deconstructed at the nearby Flavelle Cedar Mill. Read more

The Green Building Alliance (GBA) has been active in the Pittsburgh area building community as an advocate for sustainable construction and green building products for many years, so when the need for new office space arose, their path was clear. Read more

As part of Starbucks Coffee Company’s 2008 unveiling of their Shared Planet commitment to “ethical sourcing, environmental stewardship and community involvement,” was a new approach to their store designs with the intention of creating a local, community-centered feel. Read more

IslandWood, which bills itself as “a school in the woods,” is a 255 acre campus with 15 buildings and 14 outdoor features that provide an educational experience in nature and lessons in environmental stewardship to inner-city children. Read more

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory campus in Golden, Colorado had an ambitious goal to make their entire campus net-zero energy and to promote the use of the renewable energy resources they study. Read more

When the Chartwell School decided to remodel their Monterey Bay campus, a primary goal was to use the new architecture to help develop “sustainability natives” – kids for whom sustainability is second nature. Read more

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans over 10 years ago, it displaced residents and decimated the building stock in dozens of neighborhoods. Many buildings were damaged beyond the point of rehabilitation. These buildings were typically demolished and their materials landfilled. Read more

Public Architecture is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in San Francisco. It engages architecture firms, nonprofits, and manufacturers to commit to design for the public good through its nationally recognized 1% program; it acts to bring about positive community change through public-interest design initiatives and pro bono design service grants; and it shares the potential of design to change the world through advocacy and outreach.Learn More